Other prohibited items discovered –It’s
important to examine your bags prior to traveling to ensure no prohibited items
are inside. If a prohibited item is discovered in your bag, you could be cited
and quite possibly arrested by local law enforcement. Here are a few examples
from this week where prohibited items were found in strange places.

Two kitchen knives were discovered concealed in an automotive air filter box
wrapped in plastic with the air filter at Houston Intercontinental (IAH).

A comb-knife was discovered at Orlando (MCO).

A brush knife was discovered at Los Angeles (LAX).

A 7½-inch knife was concealed under the lining of the bag at Philadelphia
(PHL).

Stun Guns – Eight stun guns were
discovered this week in carry-on bags around the nation. Two were discovered at
Las Vegas (LAS), and the others were found at Albuquerque (ABQ), New York
LaGuardia (LGA), Orlando (MCO), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), San Diego (SAN), and
Knoxville (TYS).

Inert Ordnance and Grenades etc. -
We continue to find inert hand grenades and other weaponry on a weekly basis.
Please keep in mind that if an item looks like a realistic bomb, grenade, mine,
etc., it is prohibited - real or not. When these items are found at a
checkpoint or in checked baggage, they can cause significant delays in
checkpoint screening. I know they are cool novelty items, but you cannot bring
them on a plane. Read here and here on why inert items cause
problems.

Four inert/novelty/replica grenades were discovered this week. Three were discovered
in carry-on baggage at Baltimore (BWI), Minneapolis (MSP), and San Diego (SAN).
One was discovered in checked baggage at Atlanta (ATL).

Airsoft Guns – One Airsoft gun was
discovered in carry-on baggage this week at Norfolk (ORF). Airsoft guns are
prohibited in carry-on bags, but allowed in checked baggage. Read this post for
more information: TSA Travel Tips
Tuesday: Traveling With Airsoft Guns

Firearms Discovered This Week in
Carry-On Bags

Guns Discovered at (L-R) EUG, CHO, MSY, TYS, BOI, BIL, ABQ, ACT, DFW

*In order to provide a timely weekly update, I compile my data from a
preliminary report. The year-end numbers will vary slightly (increase) from
what I report in the weekly updates. However, any monthly, midyear, or
end-of-year numbers TSA provides on this blog or elsewhere will not be
estimates.

Unfortunately
these sorts of occurrences are all too frequent which is why we talk about
these finds. Sure, it’s great to share the things that our officers are
finding, but at the same time, each time we find a dangerous item, the
throughput is slowed down and a passenger that likely had no ill intent ends up
with a citation or in some cases is even arrested. The passenger can face a
penalty as high as $7,500.00. This is a friendly reminder to please
leave these items at home. Just because we find a prohibited item on an
individual does not mean they had bad intentions, that's for the law
enforcement officer to decide. In many cases, people simply forgot they had
these items.

Who is dumb enough to carry an unloaded weapon? As a Marine (Korea) when I see a weapon I automatically assume it is loaded...and if it is in someone's hand....I assume they are dangerous and intend harm. The populace needs more education on the use of firearms...nothing more dangerous than a weapon in the hands of someone who does not know how to handle it.

or take a train, or drive, or maybe even walk, etc . . . TSA has always been all about the mission creep. The TSA of today is very different than the TSA of 10 years ago. This is not a good thing and they've gone far beyond aviation. To many of us seem to welcome the coming police state to keep us safe by any means necessary.

Given the TSA personnel I encountered at the airport last week did not have enough respect for themselves to tie their own shoes, I think it's the TSA that should focus on their "regs" first. The TSA is a national disgrace.

Given the TSA personnel I encountered at the airport last week did not have enough respect for themselves to tie their own shoes, I think it's the TSA that should focus on their "regs" first. The TSA is a national disgrace.August 24, 2013 at 4:46 PM

Beginning to doubt the Anonymous comments here, as well as if if is false that TSA employees are posting "hurray for the TSA".

This is partly true because of the off-topic comments posted in the blog/story aerosol cans.

More importantly, the blog about spray cans is false and IMO someone does not deserve continued employment.

Follow this; Some dumbbell writes a newspaper filler stating you should pour hot water into your kitchen sink to removed grease in the pipes. But talk to a plumber and U learn that the water cools and the fat redeposits further down the line, especially on cast iron. Hence, BAD ADVICE.

The FAA does not permit transportation of what Lisa says is OK. Spray paint; Hair spray; Aerosol bombs. Hence should we blieve we can not take photographs at the airport too?

Loved two comments about Security Threater, and, "... (it is) government policy, so it doesn't have to make sense." Does Congress really know what they created

CliffOnTheRoad sez - "The FAA does not permit transportation of what Lisa says is OK. Spray paint; Hair spray; Aerosol bombs. Hence should we blieve we can not take photographs at the airport too?"

Lisa mentioned nothing about spray paint or aerosol bombs, she merely explained the regulations on aerosols being transported and what was allowed. Larger toiletry aerosols are permitted in checked baggage, while smaller ones under the 3.4 oz size limit are permitted in carry on baggage. There is more information available here: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/3-1-1-carry-ons

Lawrence said... Who is dumb enough to carry an unloaded weapon? As a Marine (Korea) when I see a weapon I automatically assume it is loaded...and if it is in someone's hand....I assume they are dangerous and intend harm. The populace needs more education on the use of firearms...nothing more dangerous than a weapon in the hands of someone who does not know how to handle it.

How many people carry grenades (phony or otherwise) around in their baggage or person? I find it so difficult to accept that people can be that foolish...

For all the complaining I see here, when one goes through TSA security it is handled professionally and quickly. There are few TSA inspired gliches. I bet if the public were to vote on safety over real or imagined "rights" that safely would win almost unanimously.

I feel it's important to remain vigilant about unauthorized carry-on items, or in checkined baggage.

So keep up the good work; just remember that your "workload" is mainly good citizens who just want to get from point A to point B. Please try to treat us with courtesy and respect and hopefully we all reciprocate-

What happens to the people who guns in their luggage? Its clear to me that these people should be treated as potential terrorists and should not be allowed on board their flight until they are cleared by the FBI.

Anonymous said...Lawrence said... Who is dumb enough to carry an unloaded weapon? As a Marine (Korea) when I see a weapon I automatically assume it is loaded...and if it is in someone's hand....I assume they are dangerous and intend harm. The populace needs more education on the use of firearms...nothing more dangerous than a weapon in the hands of someone who does not know how to handle it.

Dr. Morrell

August 24, 2013 at 10:17 AM

AMEN to that, Brother

August 26, 2013 at 9:52 AM...............

Bobbie always makes a point to number the weapons without a round chambered.